Rectifier.



R. A. HAMANN.

RECTIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.17, 1909.

1,014,466, Patented Jan.9,1912.

WITNESSES r l 'NVE/VTOR ZZaZ v/zflh mam MMKHW W,

ATTORNEYS UN ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH A. HAMANN, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

RECTIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J an, 9, 1912. Application filed February 17, 1909. Serial No. 478,402.

To all whom 2'2, may concern.

Be it known that I, RALPH A. HAMANN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and Improved Rectifier, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,

My invent-ion relates to rectifiers for alternating currents, my more particular purpose being to arrange one or more polar zed relays in such manner that when energized by aid of an alternating current, the relay or relays shift the direction of the currents at the proper moment to take advantage of the ductor 7. A wire 15 is connected with this last-named conductor and is also connected with a movable armature 16. The two magnets 8, 13 and the movable tongue 16 together constitute a polarized relay; that is, a relay in which the magnet cores are of steel and permanently magnetized. The tongue 16 is so polarized as to be normally attracted by one magnet 8 or 13 (it matters not which) and repelled by the other. For convenience it may be "assumed that when the device is idle, the armature 16 rests against the contact point- 18. Connected with the contact points 17, 18 are direct current wires 19, 20. Two other direct currentwires 21, 22 are connected to a wire 23 which leads to the conductor 6. Thecapacity of the condenser 10 is so proportioned that the direction of the current and thus to selectively build up one or more currents of unitary direction.

More particularly stated, .I arrange the polarized relay or relays in such manner that the armature or armatures thereof by being shifted bodily back and forth with a frequencyof movement corresponding to the frequency of the alternating current, cause different phases of the alternating current to pursue different paths.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a diagram showing a form of my invention in which there are two mains for alternating currents and two wires for direct,current, there being thus provided two taps for the direct current, this system being suitable for a low voltage; Fig. 2 is a diagram of another form of my invention, there being in this instance two polarized relays each provided with its own armature, the parts being arranged for producing direct currents of a very high voltage; and Fig. 3 shows still another form of niy invention, the construction in this figure being somewhat simpler than that shown in Fig. 2 yet retaining many of its advantages.

The mechanism shown in Fig. 1 will first be described. At 4, 5, are alternating current mains, and connected with the same are conductors 6, 7. At 8 is a polarized electromagnet which is 'connected by a Wire 9 which is connected to a condenser 10, the latter being connected by a wire 11 with the conductor 6. The polarized electro-magnet 8 is connected by a wire 12 with another polarized electro-magnet 13 and the latter is connected with a resistance 4, the resistcapacity,the polar relay associated with it, and the resistance 14, is sutficient to operate the relay and cause the armature to vibrate first to the right and then to the left, so as to engage and disengage the contact points 17 and 18. The resistance 14 and the capacity of the condenser 10 are so proportioned as to maintain a certain degree'of lead in the alternating current as regards its action upon the polarized magnets 8, 13. This is for the purpose of maintaining the current a little in advance of the electromotive force energizing the polarized magnets. By this means the armature 16 is moved slightly'before the full effect of the current takes place in the mains. The condenser 10 is adjustable for the purpose of adjusting the'lead and thus keeping thelinstrument in proper phase relation to the currents energizing the mains. Two direct current motors, 24, 25, of a kind suitable for direct current, are in this instance used, connected with the direct current wires 19, 21, or 20, 22.

The operation'of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, is as follows: I will suppose that at a particular instant, the main 4 and conductor 6 are charged positively, and at the same instant the main 5 and conductor 7 are charged negatively, so that for this instant current tends to flow from the right to the left according to Fig. 1. As the condenser 10 allows a momentary current to pass,,the polarized magnets 8. 13. are energized, and the armature 1G is moved to the right so as to engage the contact point 17. The circuit for this purpose is as follows: main 4, conance in turn being connected with the con-.

alternating current working through this ductor 6, wire 11, condenser 10, wire 9, polarized magnet 8, wire 12, polarized magnet 13, resistance coil 14, conductor 7, main 5, to power house, thence back to main 4. The polarized magnets 8, 13, having beenthus energized, and the armature 16 being in engagement with the contact point 17, as stated, and current being unable to pass the condenser 10 in any appreciable quantity, the circuit is completed as follows:' main 4, conductor 6, wire 23, Wire 21, motor 24, wire 19, contact member 17, armature 16, wire 15, conductor 7, main 5, to, power house, thencerto main 4. The current thus flows through the wire 19 in a direction corresponding to that just followed in tracing the circuit. The alternating current now reverses its direction, the polarized magnets being energized with opposite polarities,

and the armatures being moved to the left.

so as to disengage the contact member 12 and to engage the contact member 18. The current now flows through the following circuit: main 5, (for instance, not 4) conductor 7, wire 15, armature 16, contact member 18, wire 20, motor 25, wire 22, wire 23, conductor 6, main 4, to power house, thence back to main 5. The current flowing through the wires 20, 22, is in an' opposite direction from that which flowed just be-' fore through wires 19, 21. The alternating current now again reverses, so that a second current is sent through: the wires 19, 21, in the same direction as the current first energized in these wires. Another reversal of the alternating current, and another pulsation is sent through the wires 20, 22, the direction of this pulsation being the same as that of the first pulsation which energized these particular wires. The net result is that the wires 19, 21 when energized at all, are always energized in the same sense, that is, by currents having always the same direction. The wires 20, 22 when energized at all, are likewise always energizedin the same sense, that is, by currents having a unitary direction, yet the direction of the currents energizing the wires 19, 21, is always contrary to the direction of the-currents energizing the wires 20, 22. If any current be drawn from the wires 19, 21, or from the wires 20, 22, such currents will always necessarily have the same direction.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, the general principle is much the same, but the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 is more particularly adapted for currents of high voltage. At 26, 27, are shown alternating current mains which are connected with conductors 28, 29. At 30, 31, are polarized magnets which are connected together by a wire32. Disposed intermediate these magnets is a polarized armature 33 which plays back and forth and makes and breaks engagement with stationary contact points 34, 35. hiwire 36 is eoncondenser 46.

2 is as follows: Suppose as before,

magnet 39 is disposed adjacent to thepol ar ized magnet 38, these two magnets being connected by a wire 40. A11 armature 41 is disposed intermediate the polarized magnets 38, 39, and is connected by a ,wire 42 with the conductor 29. 1 Contact points 43, 44, are disposed upon opposite sides of the armature 41, and are engaged and disengaged by this armature as the latter swings back and forth. A wire 45 is connected with the polarizedmagnet 39 and with the Disposed intermediate this condenser and the conductor 29 is a resistance 47. The contact point 43 is connected by wires 48, 49 with the contact point 35; a wire 50 is connected with the wires 48, 49. A wire 51 is connected with the contact point 44 and is also connected to a wire 52 which leads to the contact point 34. A wire 53 is connected with the wires 51, 52. A wire 54 is connected with the polarized magnet 30 and with a condenser 55, and a resistancef56 is disposed intermediate this condenser and the conductor 28. A direct current motor 53" is connected with the wires 50, 53. A wire 57 is connected with the armature 33 and with theconductor 28.

"The operation of the device shown in Fig. that the line is in such condition that a current tends to flow' from the main 26 and'conductor 28 to the left according to Fig. 2, that is, toward the conductor 29'and main 27. The polarized magnets 30, 31, 38, 39 are energized without any material waste of current. This is by virtue of the condensers 46, 55, which permit the passage of just enough current to energize the polar relays to that degree necessary to move the armatures 33, 41 to the right according toFig. 2. The armature in question following circuit is completed: main 26, conductor 28, wire 57, armature 33, contact point 34, wire 52, wire 53, to instrument, line, or circuit through which the direct current is to be sent; next, wire 50, wire 48, contact point 43, armature 41, wire 42, conductor 29, main 27, to power house, thence back to main 26. A current is thus sent through the wires 50, 53 and motor 53 in one direction. The direction of the alternating current being now reversed so that the armatures 41, 33 are thrown to the left according to Fig. 1, the current flows through the system, pursuing the following circuit: main 2? (not 26), conductor 29, wire 42, armature 41. contact point 44, wire 51, wire 53, motor 53 (same direction as before), wire 50, (same direction as before),

wire'49, contact point 35, armature 33, wire,

being thus moved, the

thence back to main 27. The currents flowing through the wires 50, 53 also have by this arrangement the same direction, and may therefore be considered as direct, though perhaps discontinuous currents.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, the alternating mains appear at 58, 59, and communicate with the conductors 60, 61. At' 62, 63

' are polarized magnets connected together by a wire 64. A polarized armature 65 is associated with the magnets 62, 63, and swings to the right or left, according to the changing direction of the currents used for energizing these magnets. Mounted upon the armature 65 and insulated therefrom and from each other are two tongues 66, 67. Connected with these tongues, respectively, are spiral metallic springs 68, 69 of conducting material, these springs being connected with wires 70, 71, so as to maintain the tongues 66, 67 respectively in communication with the conductors 60, 61. A wire 72 is connected with the polarized magnet 62, and this wire is also connected with a variable condenser 73. A wire 74 is connected with this'condenser and with the conductor 60. A resistance 75 is connected with the conductor 61 and with the polar magnet 63. Contact points 7 6, 77 are disposedupon opposite sides of the tongue 66. Other contact points 78, 79 are disposed upon opposite sides of the tongue 67. A Wire 80 is connected with the contact point 76 and with the wire 81 which leads to the contact point 79. A wire 82 is connected with the wires 80, 81. A wire 83 is connected with the contact point 78, and another wire 84 which leads to the contact point 77. A wire 85 is connected with the wires 83, 84.. At 83 is a direct current motor, tobe driven by the verified current.

The operation of the form shown in Fig. 3 may be readily understood from the foregoing description regarding the other views. The condenser 73 being properly adjusted, and the polarized magnets 62, 63 being energized so as to move the armature 65 to the right, the tongue 6(Lis brought into engage ment with the contact point 76, while the tongue 67 engages the contact point 78. The current can now flow through the followingcircuit: main 58, conductor wire 70, wire spring 68, tongue 66, contact point 76, wire 80, wire 82, (instrument, circuit or line to be energized), wire 85, wire 83, contact 78, tongue 67, wire 69, wire 71, conductor 61,main 51, to power house, thence back to main 58. The direction of the alternating current being now reversed, the magnets 62, 63,'are again energized, but in the opposite sense. The armature is thrown to the left, and the following circuit is completed: inain 59 (not 58), conductor 61, wire 71, wire 69, tongue 67 contact point 79, wire 81, wire 82 (same direction as before), motor 82, wire 85 (same direction as before), wire 84, contact point 77, tongue 66, wire 68, wire 70, conductor 60, main 58, to power house, thence back to main 59. The current flowing through the wires 82 and 85 and such instrument, circuit or line as may be connected therewith, thus always flows in the same direction.

In all three of the forms above described the condenser eliminates excessive sparking and preserves the contact surfaces. By adjusting the variable condenser at will, the sparking may be reduced" to such an extent that it becomes nil even where currents of considerable amperage and high voltage are employed. WVhen the condenser is properly adjusted the armature of the polar relay allows its contacts to break and make while the current is at zero, thus doing away with sparking at points and also allowing the full half cycle to pass through.

In all three of the forms described, it is an easy matter to make the armature or armatures of the polar relay sufliciently delicate to be actuated quickly enough to re spond to the frequency of the alternations. Indeed, in most commercial circuits, there are seldom more than 110 alternations per second, and a vibratory tongue can be readily made to perform 110 movements per second- The frequency may in fact be considerably higher than 110 per second, without any danger of the armature being too slow.

I do not limit myself to the precise form of magnets shown, for the reason that magnetic members of other types may in some instances be deemed preferable. Neither do I in all cases limit myself to a polar relay or even to polarized magnets, the scope of my invention being commensurate with my claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent:

1. In a rectifier for alternating currents, the combination of alternating current mains, a polarized relay provided with a movable armature and with magnetic members, a variable condenser, said magnetic members and said variable condenser being bridged across from one of said mains to the other for the purpose of enabling saidmagnetic member to be energized by alternating currents flowing into and out of said condenser, stationary contact members mounted upon opposite sides of said movable armature, and translating devices connected with said contact members and with one of said alternating current mains.

2. In a rectifier for alternating currents,

the, combination of alternating current mains,c a polarized relay provided with a movable armature and with magnetic members, a variable condenser, said magnetlc members and said variable condenser being bridged across from one 01": said mains to the other for the purpose of enabling said magnetic members to be energize-.1 by alternating currents flowing into and out of said condenser, stationary contact members to be energized and de'elnergized by movements of sad armature, and translating devlces connected with said contact members and ener- 10 gized by currents flowing through said contact members and through said alternating current mains. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

RALPH A. HAMANN.

Witnesses CARL F. OLDAY, CLIFFORD C. SADLER. 

